Translator's
note: the man who wrote this letter, Olia's father, uses
pre-Revolutionary Russian style. Some of the words are very difficult,
and may be Russified Polish rather than Russian. From
the Yad Vashem Database, we deduce that he was Aizik Josef
Zajczyk, also spelled Zeichik, a merchant. His parents were Mordechai
and Yocheved Zajczyk. His wife was Dvora, also called Dora. Their
niece, Yocheved Peterzeil, submitted Pages of Testimony for the whole
family.
Warsaw,
Tuesday, March 9, 1926
Dear Olia!
Mama sent me your letter written on a pink paper, as well as
your equally long letter to all.
My last letters you probably received and I am waiting for
the reply.
I don’t understand why they want you to go to <Hebrew>
and why do you want to exchange your free life for <…> with a strict
regime.
I wrote and suggested that you choose some <unclear>
which you would enjoy in the future. It seems that you are not able to make
yourself study something, and I am afraid that if you don’t do it now, you will
have to return to it later - that is,
learning some profession. And if so then you sure will be sorry for the lost
time. (or time you lost) I suggested you to learn <…> art, but I am not
insisting on it, maybe you will find something else <to learn> for
yourself.
I wrote to you that I plan to send you money every month
until you learn something and will be able to support yourself. You will
understand eventually that the most important in life is <…>.
Think carefully about the steps you are taking, and do not
act without thinking.
“Big” Olia, by the way, in her last letter, wrote that she
and Janek <?> visited you and you look good. I am very happy to learn
this. I wrote you that all 35 dollars brought by the Rabbi’s sister belong to
you because here I paid aunt Aisha <?> back 20 dollars, so if you gave
some money out of this sum to Olia, you will get back the same amount.
In addition, you will receive from Olia 15 dollars that I
sent to her address. Now you should be able to pay back your small debts.
I have no news. I am working and hope that business will be
not bad.
My major worry is what to do with Robert. He is not going to be transferred to the
fifth grade and I am taking him here and want him to learn some profession. Of
course it would be good to send him to Palestine,
but right now I cannot think about it.
Mama is writing to you about everything that happened in
Lida in detail. All ours <relations and friends> here are well and send
you their regards. <…> gave my letter to the Rabbi from Eupatoria
<Note: Crimean city on the Black Sea>. Give him my
regards and ask him to write and send <his letters> together with your
letters, and I will be responding to him.
I expect that my letter will find you in <Hebrew>, and
if you <…> to <…> then you left you new address and asked that your
letter would be send to you immediately.
Write often and in detail, and do not worry.
I hug and kiss you tightly,
With great-great love
Your Dad
Say hello to <unclear>
Letters from Lida - 9